Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is claimed to have got one over Jose Mourinho last year, which may well have been the beginning of the end for the then Chelsea boss.
The Gunners boss swayed Petr Cech to quit Stamford Bridge and move across London last 13 months ago, and while Mourinho was reluctant to sell, his hand was forced.
The Portuguese manager did not wish to sell the goalkeeper to his rivals, but Roman Abramovich felt the need to honour his long-serving servent’s wishes, which led to Mourinho to demand a player in return. Jose did not succeed in securing the services of an Arsenal player however, with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain named as the players he was keen on.
An email from Mourinho is claimed to read:
‘Mister Wenger wants Cech and he thinks about money…he is wrong!!! What I want is to f him…Want Cech? OK, I want (Theo) Walcott or (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain!!!
‘Want a top goalkeeper? OK, I want a young player, s with you but I can make him top.’
Shortly after the Czech star’s switch to the Emirates, the wheels appeared to fall off for Mourinho, with the public falling out with Eva Carneiro, the medical staff member who was sacked, before suing the club. The team also faltered in the following months, which ended up costing him his job.
This transfer may well have been the ending of a happy working relationship between Roman and the now Manchester United manager, and his mood may have ended up proving costly to the club.
What a glorious day when we can boast playing our part in Chelsea’s disgraceful campaign which saw them miss out on any form of European football, nor challenge to win a single trophy.
Was our Cech capture the beginning of the end for Mourinho?
Pat J